Counterweight device

ABSTRACT

A counterweight device for use in a saber saw, including a drive, a reciprocating rod and at least a first articulated rod, whereby the counterweight device can be moved reversibly by the drive in a first pendulum motion and a second pendulum motion. The first pendulum motion of the counterweight device runs essentially opposite to a first pendulum motion of the articulated rod, and the second pendulum motion of the counterweight device runs essentially opposite to a second pendulum motion of the articulated rod.

The present invention relates to a counterweight device for use in a saber saw, comprising a drive, a reciprocating rod and at least a first articulated rod.

BACKGROUND

Saber saws of the above-mentioned type are generally known and are used especially by installation technicians for plumbing, heating and air-conditioning work, as well as by carpenters and joiners. Saber saws are also referred to as reciprocating saws or jigsaws. The most widespread uses for such saws include demolishing old structural elements and cutting pipes, lines or the like. When it comes to cutting metal pipes, there are special guide devices that make it easier to create a straight cut. Depending on the selection and properties of the saw blade, different materials can be processed. The selection includes saw blades for metal, wood, plastic, green cuttings, as well as diamond-segmented saw blades that can even cut through ceramics. Moreover, there are also special saw blades with HM-tipped blades. They are often driven by an electric motor that drives an eccentric by means of a gear. A connecting rod runs on this eccentric and it converts the rotational motion of the motor into a straight thrust for the saw blade. Such a saber saw and the associated drive are disclosed, for example, in German Preliminary Published Application DE 10 2010 038 343.

Due to the masses that are reversibly moved inside the saber saw by the drive, undesired unbalances occur that can often lead to almost uncontrollable handling of the saber saw as well as, in extreme cases, to damage to individual components of the saber saw. In order to compensate for these unbalances, mass-balancing weights are normally positioned at appropriate places on certain components of the saber saw. A saber saw with such a mass-balancing weight is disclosed, for example, in German patent DE 103 58 033 B4. This document of the state of the art especially shows a drive arrangement for a motor-driven saber saw that has a motor drive and a gear mechanism to convert a rotational motion of the motor drive into a reciprocating motion. This drive arrangement has a transmission member with an eccentric driven member that cooperates with a reciprocating drive means for a tool. The transmission member is held by means of a bearing element so as to be axially secured on a bearing base. In turn, on the transmission member, there is at least a second eccentric driven member that cooperates with a mass-balancing element, whereby a sliding bearing surface is formed on the bearing element for the mass-balancing element.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a counterweight device for use in a saber saw by means of which, in comparison to the state of the art, improved mass balancing is achieved for a saber saw and thus undesired unbalances in or on a saber saw can be reduced.

The present invention provides a counterweight device for use in a saber saw comprising a drive, a reciprocating rod and at least a first articulated rod.

According to the invention, the counterweight device can be moved reversibly by the drive in a first pendulum motion and a second pendulum motion, whereby the first pendulum motion of the counterweight device runs essentially opposite to a first pendulum motion of the articulated rod, and the second pendulum motion of the counterweight device runs essentially opposite to a second pendulum motion of the articulated rod.

According to another advantageous embodiment of the present invention, it can be provided that the counterweight device has at least a first counterweight element and a second counterweight element. This ensures that the saber saw can have a particularly low design.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the present invention, it can be provided for the counterweight device and the articulated rod to each be connected to the drive by means of a link guide, thereby yielding an especially efficient and space-saving transmission device that serves to transmit the torque generated by the drive to the counterweight device and the articulated rod.

In order to provide as many flexible options as possible for the design of the counterweight device, the counterweight device can have at least a first weight segment, a second weight segment, a third weight segment and a fourth weight segment.

According to another advantageous embodiment of the present invention, it can be provided for the second weight segment, the third weight segment and the fourth weight segment to be at least partially formed around the reciprocating rod. In this manner, the counterweight device can be positioned in a device housing in the most space-saving manner possible.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention is explained in greater detail with reference to advantageous embodiments, wherein the following is shown:

FIG. 1 a side view of a saber saw with a partially removed housing;

FIG. 2 a first perspective view of a counterweight device according to the invention in the first embodiment, together with a link guide including a link lever;

FIG. 3 a second perspective view of the counterweight device in the first embodiment, without a link lever;

FIG. 4 a third perspective view of the counterweight device in the first embodiment, together with the link guide including a link lever;

FIG. 5 a fourth perspective view of the counterweight device in the first embodiment, together with the link guide including a link lever;

FIG. 6 a fifth perspective view of the counterweight device in the first embodiment, together with the link guide including a link lever;

FIG. 7 a sixth perspective view of the counterweight device in the first embodiment;

FIG. 8 a seventh perspective view of the counterweight device in the first embodiment;

FIG. 9 an eighth perspective view of the counterweight device in the first embodiment;

FIG. 10 a ninth perspective view of the counterweight device in the first embodiment;

FIG. 11 another side view of the saber saw with a partially removed housing and a counterweight device according to the invention in a second embodiment;

FIG. 12 a tenth perspective view of the counterweight device in a second embodiment, together with the first connecting rod and a first counterweight element;

FIG. 13 an eleventh perspective view of the counterweight device in the second embodiment, together with the first connecting rod and the first counterweight element;

FIG. 14 a twelfth perspective view of the counterweight device in the second embodiment, together with the first connecting rod and the first counterweight element;

FIG. 15 a thirteenth perspective view of the counterweight device in the second embodiment, together with the first connecting rod and the first counterweight element;

FIG. 16 a fourteenth perspective view of the counterweight device in the second embodiment, together with the first connecting rod and the first counterweight element;

FIG. 17 a fifteenth perspective view of the counterweight device in the second embodiment, together with the first connecting rod and without the first counterweight element;

FIG. 18 a sixteenth perspective view of the counterweight device in the second embodiment, together with a second connecting rod and a second counterweight element;

FIG. 19 a seventeenth perspective view of the counterweight device in the second embodiment, together with the second connecting rod and the second counterweight element;

FIG. 20 an eighteenth perspective view of the counterweight device in the second embodiment, together with the second connecting rod and the second counterweight element;

FIG. 21 a nineteenth perspective view of the counterweight device in the second embodiment, together with the second connecting rod and the second counterweight element.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIGS. 1 to 10 show a saber saw 1 in a first embodiment. The saber saw 1 essentially comprises a housing 10, a drive 20, a first articulated rod 40, a second articulated rod 50, a reciprocating rod 60, a connection mechanism 70, a saw means (not shown here) and a control unit (not shown here).

FIGS. 2 to 10 show a counterweight device according to the invention in a first embodiment.

FIGS. 11 to 21 show a counterweight device according to the invention in a second embodiment.

The saber saw housing 10 has a first end 12, a second end 14, a top 16 and a bottom 18. The saw means is situated on the first housing end 12 and there is a handle 15 with a switch element 17 on the second housing end 14. The drive 20, the first articulated rod 40, the second articulated rod 50, the reciprocating rod 60 as well as the control unit are at least partially accommodated in the saber saw housing 10.

The drive 20 comprises a drive housing 22, a motor 23 having a drive shaft 24 and a drive wheel 25 as well as an energy supply means 26. The motor 23 can be a direct-current motor or an alternating-current motor. Moreover, it is possible for any other suitable motor 23 to be used. The energy supply means 26 is a power supply cable that is situated on the second housing end 14. As an alternative, the energy supply means 26 can also be in the form of a battery or the like.

The motor 23, along with the drive shaft 24, the drive wheel 25 and the connection mechanism 70, are situated in the drive housing 22, and the motor 23 is almost completely insulated by the drive housing 22. The insulation serves primarily to protect the motor 23 and its components against dust, dirt and other contamination.

As is especially shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 and as will be further explained below, the drive shaft 24 extends along a longitudinal axis L out of the motor 23. The drive shaft 24 has a first end 24 a and a second end (not shown here). The drive wheel 25 has a central receptacle opening 25 a, a first surface 25 b and a second surface (not shown here). The drive wheel 25 is non-rotatably connected to second end of the drive shaft 24 via the central receptacle opening 25 a, as a result of which a torque generated in the motor 23 is transmitted to the drive wheel 25. An uncentered or off-center crank pin is situated on the first surface 25 b. Moreover, the first surface 25 b extends along a vertical plane.

In the first embodiment of the saber saw 1 according to the invention, the connection mechanism 70 is configured in the form of a link guide 71. The connection mechanism 70 configured as a link guide 71 comprises a link lever 72 and a sliding block 78. The link lever 72 has a first end 73, a second link 74 as well as a link slot 76. The link guide 71 here is accommodated in the drive housing 22 so as to be insulated as well as protected essentially completely against possible dust deposits. The sliding block 78 is rotatably connected to the crank pin 27 of the drive wheel 25, and it is enclosed and guided in the link slot 76 in such a way that the sliding block 78 can move back and forth reversibly in order to transmit the torque within the link slot 76 along the direction of the arrows A and B.

The reciprocating rod 60 has a first portion 62 and a second portion 66. The first reciprocating rod portion 62 has a first end 63 as well as a second end 64, and the second reciprocating rod portion 66 likewise has a first end 67 as well as a second end 68. The second end 64 of the first reciprocating rod portion 62 is connected at an angle W to the first end 67 of the second reciprocating rod portion 66. This angle W extends in the vertical plane so that the first end 63 of the first reciprocating rod portion 62 is slanted towards the housing bottom 18. As a result, the reciprocating rod 60 has a slightly curved shape. Moreover, the reciprocating rod 60 has a drive point 69 that is essentially in the vicinity of the first end 67 of the second reciprocating rod portion 66.

The first articulated rod 40 comprises a pivot point 42 and a connection point 44. The connection point 44 of the first articulated rod 40 is firmly connected to the first link lever end 73. The first articulated rod 40 and the link lever 72 are positioned at an acute angle to each other. As an alternative, however, any other angle is also possible. The pivot point 42 of the first articulated rod 40, in turn, is connected to the drive point 69 of the reciprocating rod 60. Here, the pivot point 42 serves to move the reciprocating rod 60.

The second articulated rod 50 has a first pivot point 52 and a second pivot point 54. The first pivot point 52 of the second articulated rod 50 is rotatably connected to the drive housing 22. The second pivot point 54 of the second articulated rod 50 is rotatably connected to the second end 68 of the second reciprocating rod portion 66. The second articulated rod 50 serves to guide and stabilize the reciprocating rod 60.

The saw means (not shown here) is configured in the form of a saw blade having a plurality of saw teeth and it has a first end and a second end. The first saw means end is detachably connected to the first end 63 of the first reciprocating rod portion 62. The saw blade serves to separate, cut and saw a wide array of mineral or metallic materials. Depending on the configuration and properties of the saw blade, however, it is also possible to process wood, plastic or the like, that is to say, they can be separated, cut and/or sawed.

The control unit (not shown here) serves to control and regulate the sawing process, the energy supply means 26 as well as numerous other tasks and functions.

The motor 23 causes the drive wheel 25 to rotate around the axis of rotation F, as a result of which (as already described above) the sliding block 78 is moved back and forth reversibly in the link slot 76 along the direction of the arrows A and B, so that the link lever 72 is reversibly pivoted around a pivot axis P on the first link lever end 73 along the direction of the arrows C and D. In this manner, the torque generated by the drive 20, especially by the motor 23, is transmitted to the link lever 72 of the link guide 71. Via the first articulated rod 40, which is non-rotatably connected to the connection point 44 on the first link lever end 73, the first articulated rod 40 is made to execute a reversible pendulum motion around a pivot point on the first link lever end 73. In this way, the force of the drive 20 is transmitted via the link guide 71 to the first articulated rod 40, then to the drive point 69 and finally to the reciprocating rod 60. As a result, the reciprocating rod 60 is made to execute a back-and-forth motion reversibly along the direction of the arrows E and F. The forward motion is in the direction of the arrow E, that is to say, in the direction of the first housing end 12. The backward motion, in turn, is in the direction of the arrow F, that is to say, in the direction of the second housing end 14. In this process, the back-and-forth motion of the driven reciprocating rod 60 describes a slight arc motion. The back-and-forth motion as well as the force of the reciprocating rod 60 are transmitted to the saw means via a connection point at the first end 63 of the first reciprocating rod portion 62 to the saw means end. Consequently, the saw means is likewise made to execute a back-and-forth motion along the direction of the arrows E and F, as a result of which a material can be processed. As already mentioned above, the reciprocating rod 60 describes a slight arc when it moves, whereby this specific motion of the reciprocating rod 60 is transmitted to the saw means in such a way that the saw means also describes a slight arc and thus generates a reciprocating pendulum motion. This reciprocating pendulum motion of the saw means can be used especially to accelerate and increase the efficiency of the sawing process of the saber saw 1.

FIGS. 11 to 21 show a saber saw 1 in a second embodiment. Here, the saber saw 1 likewise comprises a housing 10, a drive 20, a first articulated rod 40, a second articulated rod 50, a reciprocating rod 60, a connection mechanism 70, a saw means (not shown here) and a control unit (not shown here).

As is shown particularly clearly in FIG. 17, the connection mechanism 70 according to the second embodiment has a lever arm 82 as well as a first connecting rod 84. The lever arm 82 has a first end 82 a and a second end 82 b. The first connecting rod 84 has a first end 84 a as well as a second end 84 b.

As already described above, the drive 20 has a drive wheel 25. The drive wheel 25, in turn, has a first surface 26 b as well as a second surface (not shown here). An uncentered or off-center crank pin 27 is situated on the first surface 25 b. The first surface 25 b extends along a vertical plane along a longitudinal axis L.

The first end 84 a of the first connecting rod 84 is rotatably connected to the crank pin 27. The second end 84 b of the first connecting rod 84 is rotatably connected to the first lever arm end 82 a. The second lever arm end 82 b is non-rotatably connected to the connection point 44 of the first articulated rod 40. A torque generated in the drive 20 is transmitted via the crank pin 27 to the first connecting rod 84 and then to the lever arm 82, and it is subsequently transmitted to the first articulated rod 40 and thus finally to the reciprocating rod 60.

As already mentioned above, FIGS. 2 to 10 show the counterweight device 200 according to the invention in a first embodiment which serves to compensate for and minimize the vibrations and oscillations that are generated during the operation of the saber saw 1, especially by the drive 20.

As shown in FIGS. 2 to 10, the counterweight device 200 has a first weight section 210 with a first end 212 and a second end 214, a second weight section 220 with a first end 222 and a second end 224, a third weight section 230 with a first end 232 and a second end 234, as well as a fourth weight section 240 with a first end 242 and a second end 244. Moreover, the counterweight device 200 has an axle 250 and a lever element 260. The axle 250 extends along the axis M and it has a first end 252 as well as a second end 254. The lever element 260 has a first end 262 and a second end 264. The first lever element end 262 has a connection point 265 and the second lever element end 264 has a groove 266. The second lever element end 264 is non-rotatably connected to the second axle end 254 via the connection point 265. The second end 214 of the first weight section 210 is connected to the first end 222 of the second weight section 220. The second end 224 of the second weight section 220, in turn, is connected to the first end 232 of the third weight section 230. Furthermore, the second end 234 of the third weight section 230 is connected to the first end 242 of the fourth weight section 240.

As shown in FIG. 9, the first weight section 210 and the second weight section 220 are positioned at an angle relative to each other so that the second weight section 220 is bent slightly in the direction of the second housing end 14.

As shown in FIG. 7, the second weight section 220 and the third weight section 230 are likewise arranged at an angle relative to each other. Therefore, the third weight section 230 extends essentially at a right angle to the second weight section 230 along the direction R and over the reciprocating rod 60.

As is shown in FIGS. 5, 6 and 7, the third weight section 230 and the fourth weight section 240 are also positioned at an angle relative to each other. Therefore, the fourth weight section 240 extends essentially at a right angle to the third weight section 230 in the direction of the housing bottom 18, so that the fourth weight section 240 runs parallel to the second weight section 220.

The counterweight device 200 has essentially the shape of a hook or bracket that extends around the reciprocating rod 60.

Moreover, in the additional embodiment of the saber saw 1, the first end 73 of the link lever 72 has a tooth element 75 in the form of a tapered elevation. As is especially shown in FIG. 2, the tooth element 75 extends essentially in the direction of the second housing end 14, so that it is in the same plane as the plane in which the link lever 72 is situated. The tapered elevation of the tooth element 75 is configured in such a way that it is accommodated in the groove 266 of the second lever element end 264, as a result of which the lever element 260 can be moved by the link lever 72.

As already described above, in order to compensate for the vibrations and oscillations that are generated during the operation of the saber saw 1, especially by the drive 20, the motion of the link lever 72 generated by the drive 20 is transmitted via the tooth element 75 to the lever element 260, then to the axle 250 and ultimately to the counterweight device 200. Owing to the specific angle positions of the tooth element 75, of the link lever 72, of the lever element 260, of the counterweight device 200 and of the first articulated rod 40 with respect to each other, the counterweight device 200 moves essentially opposite to the motion of the first articulated rod 40 and of the reciprocating rod 60. This counteracts the vibrations and oscillations, consequently achieving smoother and more efficient working with the saber saw 1.

As already mentioned above, FIGS. 11 to 21 show the counterweight device 300 according to the invention in a second embodiment. This counterweight device 300 likewise serves to compensate for and minimize vibrations and oscillations that are generated during the operation of the saber saw 1, especially by the drive 20.

As depicted in FIGS. 11 to 16 and 18 to 21, the counterweight device 300 as set forth in the second configuration has a first counterweight element 310, a second counterweight element 320, a compensating weight element 350, a second connecting rod 370 and a cylindrical connecting shaft 390. The first counterweight element 310 has a first end 312 and a second end 314. The second counterweight element 330 likewise has a first end 332, a second end 334 and a drive point 336. The second connecting rod 370 has a first end 372 and a second end 374. The compensating weight element 350 has a central receptacle opening 352 as well as an eccentric pin 354. The cylindrical connecting shaft 390 has a first end 390 a and a second end 390 b.

As shown in FIG. 21, the first end 372 of the second connecting rod 370 can be rotatably attached to the compensating weight element 350 by means of the eccentric pin 354. The central receptacle opening 352 of the compensating weight element 350 is non-rotatably connected to the second end of the drive shaft 24. A torque generated in the motor 23 is transmitted by means of the drive shaft 24 to the compensating weight element 350.

The first end 372 of the second connecting rod 370 is rotatably connected to the eccentric pin 354 of the compensating weight element 350. The second end 374 of the connecting rod 370 is rotatably connected to the drive point 336 of the second counterweight element 330. The eccentric pin 354 of the compensating weight element 350, in turn, transmits this torque of the drive 20 to the first end 372 of the second connecting rod 370. The torque generated in the drive is transmitted, in turn, to the second counterweight element 330 by means of the second connecting rod 370. The torque generated in the drive 20 is transmitted to the first counterweight element 310 via the first non-rotatable connection 391 a at the first end 390 a of the connecting shaft 390 and via the second non-rotatable connection 391 b at the second end 390 b of the connecting shaft 390. The first counterweight element 310 and the second counterweight element 330 are arranged essentially in parallel to each other.

Owing to the specific angle positions of the first connecting rod 84, of the second connecting rod 370, of the lever arm 82, of the first counterweight element 310 as well as of the second counterweight element 330 relative to each other, the counterweight device 300 having the first and second counterweight elements 310, 330 moves essentially opposite to the motion of the first articulated rod 40, of the second articulated rod 50 and of the reciprocating rod 60. In this manner, the generated vibrations and oscillations are counteracted, consequently achieving smoother and more efficient work with the saber saw 1. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A counterweight device for a saber saw having a drive, a reciprocating rod and at least a first articulated rod, the counterweight device comprising: at least one counterweight element movable back and forth by the drive in a first pendulum motion and a second pendulum motion, the first pendulum motion of the counterweight element running opposite to a first pendulum motion of the articulated rod, and the second pendulum motion of the counterweight element running opposite to a second pendulum motion of the articulated rod; wherein the at least one counterweight element has at least a first weight segment, a second weight segment, a third weight segment and a fourth weight segment wherein the second weight segment, the third weight segment and the fourth weight segment define a hook or bracket-shaped counterweight element extending at least partially around the reciprocating rod so that the reciprocating rod passes through the hook or bracket-shaped counterweight element.
 2. A counterweight device for a saber saw having a drive, a reciprocating rod and at least a first articulated rod, the counterweight device comprising: at least one counterweight element movable back and forth by the drive in a first pendulum motion and a second pendulum motion, the first pendulum motion of the counterweight element running opposite to a first pendulum motion of the articulated rod, and the second pendulum motion of the counterweight element running opposite to a second pendulum motion of the articulated rod; wherein the at least one counterweight element includes a first counterweight element and a discrete second counterweight element.
 3. The counterweight device as recited in claim 2 wherein the at least one counterweight element and the articulated rod are each connected to the drive via a link guide.
 4. The counterweight device as recited in claim 2 wherein the at least one counterweight element has at least a first weight segment, a second weight segment, a third weight segment and a fourth weight segment.
 5. The counterweight device as recited in claim 2 further comprising a compensating weight element, a connecting rod, a first end of the connecting rod rotatably attached to the compensating weight element, and a second end of the connecting rod rotatably connected to the second counterweight element.
 6. The counterweight device as recited in claim 5 wherein the compensating weight element has an eccentric pin, the first end of the connecting rod connected to the eccentric pin.
 7. The counterweight device as recited in claim 2 wherein the first and second counterweight elements are spaced apart on opposite sides of the reciprocating rod.
 8. The counterweight device as recited in claim 2 wherein the first and second counterweight elements have a same shape. 